NEW YORK — U.S. auto sales plunged 37 percent in November to their worst level in more than 26 years, dashing expectations that this dismal year for vehicle demand had found a bottom and adding more ammunition to the Detroit automakers’ case for a congressional lifeline.

“Our industry is in a much more severe situation than the rest of the economy,” said Mike DiGiovanni, General Motors’ executive director of global market and industry analysis. “We cannot continue at these levels or else the entire industry is going to go down.”

U.S. auto sales in November fell to 746,789, according to Autodata. On a seasonally adjusted basis, automakers reported an annual sales rate of 10.2 million units, the lowest level since October 1982.

Automakers and analysts blamed the crumbling economy, less access to vehicle financing and a wait-and-see approach among consumers more preoccupied with the value of their homes and the fate of their jobs than the lure of a new car.

“Consumers (are) not showing up at the dealerships — regardless of the deals they’re being offered and regardless of how low the gas prices go,” said Jesse Toprak, executive director of industry analysis for automotive website Edmunds.com.

Every major automaker reported a year-over-year sales decline of more than 30 percent in results released Tuesday. The Detroit carmakers were among the worst hit, with GM’s U.S. sales falling 41 percent and Chrysler’s dropping 47 percent.

GM said it needs $4 billion this month and a total of $12 billion in loans from the federal government by late March to keep operating, while Chrysler is asking for $7 billion by year’s end. Ford wants a $9 billion line of credit, though it has said it has enough cash to get through 2009 and may not have to touch the government’s money.

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